"OF NOBLE BIRTH."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1928, Page 3 (Supplement)

"OF NOBLE BIRTH."

YOUTH GOES WRONG. PARENTAL CONTROL LACKING. T* Described as a youth of "noble birth" who had gone wrong owing to lack of parental guidance, lan Duff Neil Arnott, 22, was sentenced at the Old Bailey to nine months in the second division. He pleaded guilty to a number of charges of obtaining food and lodgings by false pretences and also admitted ail offence under the Bankruptcy Act. Mr. I'eicival Clarke, prosecuting, said that Arnott was adjudicated a bankrupt in May last, with liabilities of £1000 and no assets. Most of the charges preferred against him were in respect of what were commonly

called "stumer" cheques, which he had tendered in settlement of bills at hotels and restaurants.

Detective Dennis said that Arnott came of highly-respectable parents and was connected with the families of Duff and Fife. At one time he received an allowance of £5 a week from his father, who was an osteopath practising in Mayfair. None of his relations would now have anything to do with him, however, and his sole means consisted of an annuity of £200 which he received under the will of his grandmother. Despite his limited income he had lived in luxurious style and had frequented night clubs and expensive restaurants. Some time ago he was cited as the co-respondent in a flying officer's divorce suit.

Mr. Abinger. defending, said Arnott was a boy of noble birth, who had gone wrong very largely owing to lack of parental guidance. If his relatives had done their duty by him he would have been at Sandhurst qualifying for a commission in a cavalry regiment.